Esperance come back for famous CAF victory

● Saad Bguir was the unlikely two-goal star as Esperance of Tunisia beat Al Ahly of Egypt 3-0 on Friday in Rades to win a third CAF Champions League title.

Bguir had been a reserve for most of the African campaign, scoring just once, and started in the second leg of the final only because Cameroonian Franck Kom was suspended. After he scored in each half, Anice Badri netted to give Esperance a 4-3 aggregate victory after losing the first leg 3-1 with Ahly converting two controversial penalties.

A dominant performance by the home team at the Stade Olympique de Rades ended a 10-match winless run against Ahly in CAF competitions since July 2011.

After a tense buildup with Esperance furious at the treatment they received in Egypt, the match passed without incident before the

60,000 crowd.

“This is a victory that will remain in my memories,” said Bguir, who dedicated the victory to the supporters and former coach Khaled Ben Yahia, who left Esperance after they lost the first leg of a semifinal to Primeiro Agosto in Angola and the club refused to say whether he quit or was sacked.

Tearful winning coach Moine Chaabani, previously an assistant to Ben Yahia, said: “There are some people who left me in life (who) I wished were here today.” The 37year-old handler and former Esperance defender then moved from the microphone without mentioning who he was referring to.

Esperance dominated the first half and scored a minute into stoppage time through Bguir. Bguir put Esperance two goals ahead on the night and in front overall on away goals when he struck again on 54 minutes.

Badri put the outcome beyond doubt on 86 minutes.